Merry Christmas don't let the neurotic world drive you crazy

I used to enjoy going to the local Halloween parade. My kids are grown up and on their own, so I have not attended the parade in recent years. One of the largest Halloween parade's on Delmarva is now simply called a "Community Parade." Other community centers no longer celebrate Halloween, instead they have a "Fall Festival." I am told the celebration of Halloween is a sensitive subject. Some families are choosing not to participate in Halloween activities of any kind because of religious convictions.

As a child in school, and later as an employee of a school district, I anxiously awaited the Christmas break every year. That week off from Christmas Eve until the start of the new year, was a special time of year to celebrate with family and friends. Searching for the Christmas Break on many school calendars I find that it is now officially the Winter Break. I am surprised that my official state list of holidays hasn't changed Christmas to "Recycled Pagan Celebration of the Winter Season."

Now the world is angry and fighting over the meaning of red Starbucks coffee cups. According to those drawing attention to Starbucks, the company is taking part in a so-called "war on Christmas" because the red coffee cups no longer acknowledge the Christmas holiday. According to Starbucks the company tries to embrace diversity. Does our world now define diversity as not showing any references to history or culture? Let's forget about all traditions that have any possible connections to anything someone claims is against their beliefs?

People are getting murdered all over the world because of what they believe in and others are wasting time hating people for the color of their coffee cups. Instead of fighting over decorations on coffee cups, shouldn't everyone be promoting peace on earth, goodwill toward men? If I call that Christmas and you call it Kwanzaa, but we both are promoting peace on earth, goodwill toward men, isn't that the true meaning of diversity?

The neurotic world is enough to drive you crazy. Does the world feel any friendlier thanks to all the political correctness? Are we a kinder, gentler nation, because we want to eliminate all references to the civil war?

If the urge strikes me to get my annual over priced Gingerbread Latte at Starbucks, I will be sure to wish them a Merry Christmas. As long as I am alive, I will celebrate Halloween and wish everyone I know a Merry Christmas.

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The Tao of Questy is about love and laughter and being human. It's about sharing ideas and being a little bit crazy in order to stay sane.